President Ts.Elbegdorj, who formally opened this year’s Naadam celebration on Monday, also declared its official close on July 12, when the wrestling tournament ended in the Central Stadium.

In his opening speech, he had said, “During this beautiful summer season full of life, the whole Mongolian nation has embraced the traditional Naadam Festival for National Day, I wish this year”s Naadam to be excellent and successful.”  When announcing the close of Naadam and of the celebration of all the historical anniversaries, he expressed happiness that “the horses ran fast, the archers were sharp sighted, wrestlers were strong, and all celebrated in the right spirit”.

Prime Minister S. Batbold and Parliament Speaker D. Demberel were among the 12,300 people in the stadium to watch the performance of the artists and the sportsmen. The highlight of the opening ceremony was the traditional placing in the arena of the Nine White State Banners carried there by the Mongolian cavalry honor guard.

The two-day Naadam festival featured 512 wrestlers and hundreds of horses of different ages as well as many archers. Anklebone shooting has also become an official competition game.